High-pressure windowed cell



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IN VEN TOR.'

AT TORNE Y M. J. RZASA HIGH-PRESSURE WINDOWED CELL Y MFCHAL J. RZASA B .x :N NN Nw WN Q b.-v m N. 4 Y ,v4 Y?, "l ON Dec. l5, 1953 Filed Dec. 29, 1950 Dec. 15, 1953 M. J. RzAsA HIGH-PRESSURE wINnowED CELL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1950 n mm. E .NGE

.vw mw I+ +1 m E bum INVENTOR.' MICHAEL J RZASA 311m ATTORNEY Patented Dec. l5,

UNITE-D STATES PATIEIN' OFFICE as'as HIGH-PRESSURE WlNDOWED l CELL Michael J. Rzasa, Tulsa, Okla., as signor to Stanojlind Oil and vGras Com poration'of Delawarev`v` ,Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,288

4 claims.

This invention relates to vapparatus for testing fluids, such as mixtures of substances some of which are condensable from the gaseous to the liquid state under certain conditions ofA pressure and temperature. It is .directed particularly to 'a high-pressure windowed cell for studying the conditions of such systems as mixtures'of hydrocarbons found in. gas, gas distillate, and oil reservoirs. Specically, the' invention is directed to a windowed, variable-volume Vcell for quanti- ,of such substances fas hydrocarbons, someof which are gaseous and others of which are condensable under certain conditions of temperature and pressureare useful for a number `of purposes, such as for evaluating the recoverable liquid content of a given mixture or for determining the most efficient operating procedure for a maximum recoveryof such a mixture from a given reservoir. The high-pressure testing cells which have been heretofore devised for studying such mixtures have been subjectfto c ertainlimitations, such as a complete' inability )or only limited ability to View the contents of the ',cell, and have often required the use of such displacing liquids as mercury which'are capable of reacting chemically with thecomponents of some gaseous mixtures to be tested, as well as offering problems of handling or corrosion.

A primary object, accordingly, of myvinvention is to provide an improved'form of windowed, variable-volume, high-pressure, testing'cell vfor fluid mixtures containing both gaseous and liquid lor condensable components. Some of the further and more specic objects and vfeatures V-of the cell of my invention are to avoid entirely the use of mercury as the confining medium, to provide complete visibility of the liquid and gaseous phases in a single eldof view,.to measure accurately very small volumes of liquider vapor, to provide a Very simple and accurate Volumcalibration, to provide agitation forvthecell contents without the use ,oifmoving parts within the'rcell, and to provide for simply and quickly opening and closing the cell for purposes .of cleaning Vor repair and maintenance. Other and further objects, uses, and advantages of, the inventionlwill become apparent as the description proceeds. Stated briefly, the foregoing Vand other objects are accomplished by a cellin the form of a highpressure cylinder LVoriented in a horizontal posivtion with one end of the cylinder closed by a circular disc of transparent material completely supported by a metal disc except for a vertical viewing -slot, extending diametrically across the end of the cell. The movable boundary of the cell lcomprises a piston actuated by hydraulic oil pressure to vary the cell volume and the pressure on the sample contents. VSurrounding and spaced somewhat from the outside of the cell cylinder is an insulating jacket within which air, maintained thermostatically at a desired temperatures is rcirculated to maintain the cell and contents at .the desired temperature level. .Agitationof the cell contents is accomplished by `a small magnetically operated pump in a bypass Hline yoperating at the cell pressure, which pump transfersfluid between the bottom and top of the cell. f

` This will bebetter understood by reference to ythe accompanying drawings forming a part of thiswapplicatiomin thediilerent figures of which drawings the same numeral designates the same orA acorrespondingpart. In these drawings:`

Figure 1 is across-section view of the preferred embodiment of nmy l, invention; and

Figure 2A showsdiagrammatically a complete testing :systemincluding the cell of the invention and its. auxiliary Yequipmen Referrin nowto these drawings, andin particular to Eigure `1the main body of the cell of my invention.y comprises a horizontal, thick- Walled,.hollow cylinder |70,` lpreferably formed'of stainless steelorsimilar material not subject to corrosion h. by confirnfon ncorrosive agents. Cylindrical cell vrI0 is prvidedwiththe end members IIy and I2 preferably'V connected thereto by taperedtool-joint threadslwhich are simultaneous- 1y strong j andeasily and/quickly openedV `and Fitting withinthe lhorizontal bore of cell cyl- `indienUlis a lpiston having a 'body I4 carrying chevrontpackin'g rings I5' and I6 facing in opposite l`,directions and fcoin 'ressed respectively by rings I T and IBf" tired b'yjscrews to the piston body IA. y laster'iedbyV threads or similar means to thepistongu is' a piston 'rod lo extendmg throughlthe .end .fmember lI I`.

Fluid leakag aroundthe piston rod v20 is preventedby a v pzu'ilfzing `gland including chevron packingrings ZZItighten'e'd `by a packing'nut v3 which is `partpf aremovable packing assembly A2li of*f lthe unsupported-area-type which includes surrcundingwashersl and '26 of plasticmaterialUsliclrV as v the', tetrailuoroethylene polymer known commercially as Teflon, and a neoprene ring 21. A backing ring 28 in contact with the innei` end of end member I I maintains the packing assembly 24 in place around the piston rod 20, so that the cell is sealed against hydraulic fluid leakage either past the piston rod or through the tool-joint threads.

The end of cylinder I opposite the piston rod 20 is closed by a thiclr, circular glass disc 3|, preferably slightly larger in diameter than the internal bore of cylinder I0, and provided by a surrounding V-ring packing 32. Glass disc 3| is backed up and supported against the internal cell fluid pressure by a metal disc 33 having a narrow vertical slot 34 just slightly greater in length than the diameter of the inner bore of cell cylinder i0 and extending diametrically thereacross. Disc 33 is supported and held in place by the end member I2, and registering pins 35 and 36 in the disc 33 engaging holes drilled linto the body of cylinder I0 maintain slot 34 vertical and prevent disc 33 from turning when end member I2 is rotated to tighten the assembly and seal that end of the cell I0.

Extending into or through the wall of cylinder I0 are a number of wells, such as the thermocouple wells 40, and ducts, such as the ducts 4I and 42, which pass through the cylinder wall 'behind piston Id-that is, at the end of the cell adjacent piston rod. 20. Duct ai is connected by a tubing 44 to a lay-pass Valve 45 and to the outlet of a pump 45 which has its inlet connected to a hydraulic oil reservoir 41, so that by operating pump 46 with valve 45 closed hydraulic oil is forced into the space behind piston I4, moving it 'toward the right on the diagram and thereby decreasing the cell volume enclosed between the piston and glass disc 3|. To the duct 42 is connected a tubing ISS leading to a pressure gage 49 by which the pressure of the hydraulic oil in the space behind piston I4 can be determined to indicate the pressure of the test uids within the portion of cell I to the right of the piston.

As the effective area of the left side of piston I4 is less than that on the right due to the area of piston rod 2D, the pressure of the hydraulic fluid indicated by gage 49 is always higher than the pressure of the test fluids; but, since the ratio of areas is a constant, the factor of proportion- 'ality of the pressures is a constant. Because of the smooth sealing surfaces and the lubrication of the piston and rod packings by graphite, the friction of these packings is negligible in determining the cell pressure and volume.

To a similar duct I in the cell body I0 at the end adjacent glass disc 3| is connected a tubing 52 extending from a valve 53 through which a sample may be introduced into the cell space to the right of piston IG. Duct 5I preferably enters cell I0 adjacent the lower end of slot 34, while a similar duct 55 passes through the wall of cell I0 near the top end of slot 34. In series between ducts 5I and 55 is connected a by-pass tubing line 56 including a magnetically actuated pump 51, so that fluid can be circulated by pump 51 rbetween the bottom and top of the cylinder I0 to agitate the fluids and assist in more rapidly reaching equilibrium condition of the phases within the cell. A valve 58 in a branch of line 50 adjacent duct 55 permits the introduction or drawing off of vapor samples from cell I0.

While the cell contents may be viewed at all times directely through the slot 34 and glass-disc window 3|, it is preferred to place a vertical 45- degree mirror 6| at the end of the opening in ,4 end member I2, together with a lamp 62 in a. reflector housing B3 for illuminating the cell contents, so that observations may be carried out from a position at one side of the cell.

The position of piston I4 and hence the volume within the cell bore between the piston and window 3| is indicated by an index member 65 adjacent a scale 66 fixed relative to the cell cylinder I0, index member 65 being attached by a coupling B1 to the projecting end of piston rod 20. Thermocouples S8 in thermocouple wells 40 indicate at any desired location the temperature of the cell body and hence of the fluids within the cell after thermal equilibrium has been reached.

Figure 2 shows more completely an auxiliary system used for testing operations with the cylindrical cell I0. As shown in this figure, the cell assembly is surrounded by a thermal jacket 10 vwithin which is circulated air at a thermostaticent arrows, hydraulic oil is withdrawn from the reservoir 41 alternately into the cylinders 15 and 16 and then alternately forced through the similar checl; valves 19 and 30 into the pressure lead 44 and thence into the cell cylinder I0 behind piston I4 to move it to the right.

Piston 13 is actuated by compressed air or other fluid from a supply line 82 which acts alternately on opposite sides of the piston 13 through the solenoid-actuated valves 83 and 24 controlled by limit switches 85 and 85 having contacts mounted respectively on the polish rod 14 and on each of the high-pressure cylinders 15 and 15. Valves 83 and 84 alternately admit compressed air to, and vent it from, the opposite sides of piston 13, causing it to reciprocate and force fluid from reservoir 41 into the cell I0.

lof cell I0 and, in particular, the interface between the llquid and vapor and any additional interfaces within the cell liquids are observed and accurately measured by a cathetometer telescope 9| which is trained on the ll5-degree mirror BI. Such additional interfaces Within the condensed vliquids are rare but have been observed with this cell, Whereas their existence would probably never be known with a cell offering only limited visibility.

Coupled to the input tubing 52 and valve 53 is 4an injector cell 04 and a valve 93 through which samples are introduced for testing. The injector pump or cell 94 comprises a pressure cylinder 95 enclosing a polish rod piston 96 which is actuated by a hydraulic piston 91 of somewhat larger area in a cylinder 98 to which hydraulic oil from a reservoir 99 is supplied under pressure by a pump |00. A by-pass line IOI controlled by a valve |02 extending between the outlet of pump and reservoir 98 provides for returning oil to the reservoir and thus for reciprocating pistons 91 and 96 and controlling the entrance of or forcing fluids into the cell W. A rod |83 extending from piston 91 and packed off through the end of cylinder 58 carries an index |94 which indicates against a stationary scale m the exact position of piston 96 and hence the exact volume of the liquidA introduced into cell l0 by the injector cell 94. Materialto be tested introduced through Ythe valve 93 is forced by the injector cell pump 94. into the cell l0 regardless of the pressure therein.

Connected to the tubing 52 are valves ||0 and f through which liquid samples may be withdrawn into a liquid sample bomb |2 closed by a valve ||3. Through the valve 58v and a similar' valve I4 a vapor sample may be withdrawn from the top part of cell I0 into a vapor sample bomb ||5 closed by a valve H6. Through valves He, and ||9 a vacuum pump |20 is connected respectively to the upper and lower parts of the cell le, to the sample bomb ||5, to bomb H2, and to the sample inlet system at a point between valves 93 and 53. By manipulation of the various valves, it is apparent that pump can be used to evacuate the entire system or any desired portions thereof.

In operation, after a given sample of gas and liquid, either in single or multiple phase, has been introduced through valve 93 and pump 94 into the cell. |0, valves H0. and 58 being closed, it is necessary only to apply hydraulic pressure by operating pump 46 to move cylinder I4 to the right to decrease progressively thecell volume and raise the pressure on the test fluids. This is done with the valve closed. If it is desired to move piston |4 to the left to increase the cell volume, valve 45 is simply opened to allow hydraulic oil to ow back into reservoir 41 under pressure of the test fluids within cell 0.

With the piston |4 at any given position, the cell fluids are agitated by operating pump 51 to transfer liquid from the bottom to the top of cell l0 for a period of time, during which the temperature of the cell and surrounding air is maintained at whatever value is desired. When an equilibrium has been reached between the vapor at the top of cell |0 and the liquid on its bottom,

the positions of the liquid-vapor interface and of any other interface are noted and accurately measured by the cathetometer telescope 9|. A record is also made of the volume, pressure, and temperature of the cell by reference respectively to the scale 66, the gage 88, and an indicator 68 connected to thermocouple 68.

To continue the testingy the pressure on the mixture within cell |0 is changed as desired by actuating piston |4 to a new position as indicated against scale B6, and the mixture is again brought to equilibrium by agitation with the pump 51, after which the respective vapor and liquid volumes are noted by the position of the interface against glass disc 3|, and the pressure and temperature are recorded.

A particular advantage of cell 0 as described is that no displacing mercury is employed which could come into contact with the sample fluids being tested, so that no chemical reactions, such as might occur if hydrogen sulde were a component of the mixture, can take place. Likewise, the volume enclosed within the cell I0 is of such a shape that only very small amounts of vapor or liquid are necessary to make their ap- G pearance known at the. bottoni 'or atthe tori iof the slot 34. Thusl both the dew pont'and the bubble point of mixtures canbe determined with high accuracy where it is important to know the exact conditions under which a single-phase mixture just begins to separate into two phases.

Calibration of the cell is a simple matter, as the cell volume enclosed betweentheglass disc 3|' and piston |4 is a simple geometrical shape so that the variation in volumewith position of .the pis.- Aton I4 is calculable and linear. vDue to the tooljoint coupling between end member t2 and cylindrical cell body t0, complete disassemblyand removal of the glass disc 3| for replacement or for cleaning it and the interior ofthe cell and reassembly for further testing can be Vperformed. in only a few minutes; Not the least of the ad.- vantages is the fact' that a cross sectionl of the entire liquid and gas sample is visible in oneliield of view, so `that in operation: no time is -lostin manipulating the fluids to bring an interface to one particular position for observation or Ineasurement. This results in a worthwhile saving. in operating time. 1 1

While I have described ,myr invention in'terms of the foregoing specific details, it is to be understood that these are for'purposes of illustration only, and the invention shouldnotbe considered as limited solely to the details described, as these are subject to modicationand variation by those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention should properly be ascertained by reference to the appended claims. 1

Iclaim: '1 v l 1. A cell for observing phase-equilibrium conditions of fluids under variableconditions of temperature and pressure comprising a thick-walled, horizontal, cylindrical cell Ahaving a uniformdiameter bore extendingalongthe axis thereof, a thick, transparent circular window perpendicular to said axis sealing and forming one end of Said bore, a piston in said bore closely engaging the walls thereof and forming with said window a cylindrical space of variable volume adapted to contain a fluid sample, means attached to said piston for indicating outside of said cell the piston position within said bore, means for applying hydraulic pressure to move said piston and vary the cell volume between said piston and said window, said piston being movable substantially into contact with said window, whereby the minimum -cell volume is substantially zero, means for determining the pressure of a uid sample within said cell volume, means for maintaining said cell and said fluid sample at a given temperature, and at least one iluid conduit extending through the wall of said cell whereby a fluid sample may be introduced or removed from said cell volume.

2. A cell for observing phase-equilibrium conditions of fluids under variable conditions of temperature and pressure comprising a thick-walled, horizontal, cylindrical cell having a uniformdiameter bore extending along the axis thereof, a thick, transparent circular window perpendicular to said axis closing and forming one end of said bore, a piston in said bore, a rod attached to said piston and extending through the end. of said cell opposite from said window, packing means slidably sealing between said piston and said bore and around said rod, an index attached to a portion of said rod projecting from said cell, a scale xed relative to said cell and adjacent said index for observing the position of said rod and hence of said piston within said cell, means for applying iluid pressure in said bore behind Said piston to move it towards said window, said pis` ton being movable substantially into contact with said window, whereby the minimum cell volume is substantially zero, a pressure gage actuated in proportion to the pressure of a fluid sample in said bore between said piston and said window, and uid inlet and outlet conduits both extending from said bore through lthe wall of said cell near the end thereof adjacent said window, whereby a fluid sample may be introduced or removed from saidcell. l y v 3. A cell for observing phase-equilibrium con ditions of fluids under variable conditions of temperature and pressure comprising a thick-Walled, horizontal, cylindrical cell having a uniform-diameter bore extending along the axis thereof, a piston in said bore closely engaging the walls thereof, means for applying hydraulic pressure to one side of said piston to move it along said bore, a rod attached to said piston for indicating outside of said cell its position within said bore, packing means slidably sealing between said piston and bore and around said rod thereby closing oi one end of said bore, a thick, transparent. circular window perpendicular to said axis closing the other end of said bore and forming with said piston a variable cell volume which substantially approaches zero as said piston approaches said Window, a resilient sealing ring surrounding said window, a metal disc having a slot extending across its center adapted to support said window against iluid pressure within said bore, said slot providing a vertical cross-section view across the entire height of said celll interengaging projections between said disc and the body of said cell and means for indicating the pressure of a fluid in said bore.

4. A cell for observing phase-equilibrium conditions of uids under variable conditions of temperature and pressure comprising a thick-walled, horizontal, cylindrical cell having a uniformdiameter bore extending along the axis thereof, a thick, transparent Window perpendicular to said axis closing and forming one end of said bore, a piston in said bore, a rod attached to said piston and extending through the end of said cell opposite from said window, packing means slidably sealing between said piston and said bore and around said rod, an index attached to a portion of said rod projecting from said cell, a scale fixed relative to said cell and adjacent said index for observing the position of said rod and hence of said piston within said cell, means for applying fluid pressure in said bore behind said piston to move it towards said Window, a pressure gage actuated in proportion to the pressure of a fluid sample in said bore between said piston and said window, iluid inlet and outlet conduits both extending from said bore through the wall of said cell near the end thereof adjacent said Window, whereby a fluid sample may be introduced or removed from saidv cell, a closed tubular conduit outside of said cell and extending between said iiuid inlet and outlet conduits, and a pump in said tubular conduit, whereby iiuids may be withdrawn and reintroduced into said cell to effect agitation of said iluids. l MICHAEL J. RZASA.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

